Claver,

Going Back to their Roots The Higaonons’ Heritage of Biodiversity and Forest Conservation

Oral historical narratives of Thousands of other trees in Misamis Oriental’s Higaonons Northeastern ’s dipterocarp (literally, mountain dwellers) forests, especially in Claveria – the largest mention an extraordinarily huge among the twenty-four towns of Misamis Oriental, with a total land area of 825 sq and robust tree that grew at the km (82,500 ha) – have since shared the fate center of what was to be the first of the fabled aposkahoy. officially-declared when the municipality of Claveria was Yet the culprit to the area’s established in 1950. The tree was considerable in the past four so big that a budyong (helmet shell decades was not a fatal curse but the used as a horn) sounded behind it practice of migrant settlements. could not be heard on the other side Newcomers in search of the proverbial “greener pasture” initially cleared a small of its trunk (Lacson n.d.). portion of land for crop production, and Aposkahoy, one of Claveria’s cut trees for house construction and twenty-four barangays, was named firewood for home consumption. But after this tree, which was more migrants meant more trees felled, unfortunately felled as it was bigger clearings of fertile land for high- believed to have carried a fatal value crops, and consequently, less forest curse. cover. BANTAY Kalasan members, deputized by DENR to apprehend timber poachers, end up playing a crucial role in conflict resolution, thanks to the various training-workshops they attended.

The implementation of the PTFCF-funded Moreover, the Higaonon reforestation project in Barangays Madaguing and datus (chieftains) welcomed the Mat-i, and in Aposkahoy’s Sitio Man-ibay in Claveria project as technical support to the couldn’t have come at a better time. “Building on preparation of their application Community-based Conservation of Native Trees: for Certificate of Ancestral Reforestation at the Cabulig and Balatukan Forest Domain Title (CADT) and the Margins,” was a two-year project implemented by formulation of their Ancestral the Landcare Foundation of the , Inc. Domain Sustainable Develop- (LFPI). ment and Protection Plan (ADSDPP). Both were initiated To the Higaonons who consider mountains and in 2005 by the leaders of the forests sacred, the principal aim of the project – to MAMACILA (acronym for Mat-i enhance the conservation of native trees and – and Man-ibay; Civoleg and is not unfamiliar. It is akin to their traditional Langguyod) Apo Ginopakan environmental management practice of setting aside Higaonon Tribal Council, Inc., a a sikaran, a “no hunting area” in the forest, to help non-profit organization to which preserve of fauna (including the endangered some of the community-based Philippine [Pithecophaga jefferyi]) and flora forest management project (Lacson n.d.). To develop and strengthen community stakeholders belong. Project enterprises and livelihood sources that enhance results showed that objectives forest conservation was an equally strong motivation were satisfactorily met – and for the residents’ active involvement in the project. more. Rethinking Reforestation Bantay Kalasan (forest guard; BK) chief Joping Malo-ay recounts confrontations In the three project sites, 283 ha of land with neighbors, relatives and friends with high biodiversity were delineated by apprehended for timber . He is the communities for strict protection, a invariably told, “You’re right, this should specified area closed to all activity not be done, but I need to put food on the except for scientific studies and/or table. If you want me to stop cutting trees, ceremonial or religious use by the give me money to feed my family.” Higaonon. An additional 25 ha were set for forest rehabilitation. Moreover, 56.5 ha It took 16.5 hectares-worth of agro- were identified as communal forests, and forestry (abaca, coffee) in the individual 17.2 ha were set for individual’s restoration farm lots of community members and the areas through assisted natural regeneration launch of small-scale tinagak (abaca fiber (ANR). rope) and hinabol (hand-woven textile) enterprises to convince small-scale illegal The ANR, which incorporates the loggers to rethink their easy-money protection of seedlings from undergrowth schemes. and the planting of new trees when needed, is labor-intensive and requires constant Today, all barangays involved in the maintenance. In communities where most project have enacted an ordinance requiring families’ survival depends heavily on the any resident cutting trees in the ANR areas national government’s support that was to ten seedlings in exchange for every precursor to the current conditional cash tree felled. Some might doubt the transfer program, forest protection could be sustainability of this practice, but the intensified if integrated with the community’s volunteer forest guards are development of additional sources of convinced it is viable since this practice has income. been handed down by their ancestors.

THROUGH their experience in the PTFCF-LFPI community-based reforestation project, the Higaonons have become experts in building nurseries such as this 155,000 seedling nursery for DENR’s National Greening Program in Man-ibay, Aposkahoy. REGULAR meetings to monitor project progress have also helped community folks be more aware of the needs of their neighbors and offer help whenever necessary.

Each community (Man-ibay, Mat-i and The project, meant to Madaguing) built nurseries and growing chambers, preserve the biodiversity in the through which locals improved their wildling three communities, (out)planted collection and management skills. To be reacquainted a total of 52,491 hills of nineteen with native trees, they asked community elders, who species of indigenous trees, willingly shared their knowledge of the mountains such as: ani-e (Erythrina fusca), and forests. The picture painted by their elders basikong (Ficus botryocarpa), bitaog showed that drawing upon the past can be a (Calophyllum blancoi), buga-buga significant source of diversity. Who would have (Neolisea vidalii), hinagdong known, for instance, that the Cabulig and Balatukan (Tremma orientalis), kati-e forests were home to about twenty-six kinds of high- (Castanopsis spp.), lago (Prunus quality rattan species? gresea), white lauan (Shorea contorta), nato (Palaquium Young Higaonons were involved in the project’s mindanaense Merr), narra nursery building and maintenance. “For school tree- ( indicus), sagimsiman planting activities, these students would invariably (Syzygium brevistylum); as well as insist on using native tree species with which they lugisan, magapipi, malangkaw, have become quite familiar,” says Malo-ay. malasantol, and pugahan, which “Knowledge of these things keeps them reconnected are identified only by their local with, and teaches them to value their roots,” he adds. names. Reinforcing Community Agro-forestry

Three livelihood projects were Some 16,500 abaca suckers were initiated or given assistance for distributed to ninety households in three expansion through the community- communities of Man-ibay, Mat-i and based forest management program: Madaguing. “Even those who didn’t sign abaca production and processing; coffee up for the project eventually benefitted,” production; and community marketing says Datu Matundaan, as those involved enterprise for abaca fiber and abaca in the project shared planting materials finished products – tinagak, hinabol and with their relatives and neighbors. handicrafts. Today, most of the Higaonon farmers “It took sometime before we could in the three communities grow abaca, convince those who are used to foraging which is both economically and to refrain from, or minimize harvesting ecologically beneficial. A shade-loving rattan, which used to be abundant in our plant, abaca typically grows better in forests, and other timber and non-timber mountainous areas in association with forest products,” recounts Perfecto various forest species (Gonzal 2005). It Pinuhan, also known as Datu also helps prevent soil erosion and Matundaan. conserves forest water.

DATU Buo-tan and his wife are among the Higanons benefiting from abaca production and processing. The Higaonons’ choice Supporting the Ancestral of abaca as cash crop is a Domain Claim testament to their knowledge of what is now Inspired by the success of their counterparts in termed “rainforestation,” a the Minalwang Higaonon Tribal Council farming strategy that (MIHITRICO), which started pursuing their CADT restores the original application as early as 1993, MAMACILA followed vegetation stand and at the the lead albeit a dozen years later. The two same time conserves the organizations, which share common traditions and biological diversity in the ethno-linguistic characteristics, synchronized their area by facilitating the separate CADT application-related activities through natural process of the assistance of GREEN Mindanao and other NGOs succession (DILG 2004). working closely with LGUs (Lacson n.d.).

By the time the project In 2007, LFPI took over from where other NGOs ended in 2008, the left off, helping in the pre-perimeter survey as well community marketing as the actual ground perimeter survey of the 17,558.6- enterprises in the three hectare CADT claim of the Higaonon Tribe of communities supported by MAMACILA; and facilitated the installation of the project had a total value monuments for ancestral domain boundary. of Php103,337 (US$2,520), a 51.4-percent return on the “We (LFPI) assisted (the group) in reworking Php68,250 (US$1,664)-worth their CADT application and in reframing what was investment. Part of the to be the basis for their ADSDPP (through a earnings went to workshop),” recalls Ben Errol Aspera, LFPI MAMACILA, to be used in executive director. Erlinda Malo-ay, MAMACILA its operational expenses. chair, says the support from LFPI consolidated their The rest was divided among efforts to secure tenure. “After almost a decade of those who took an active waiting, we’re almost there,” she declares. “Just some part in the reforestation more procedural requirements and we will soon be project, to help them in their able to present each of about 200 households 2 ha abaca/coffee farming (some with CADT. We’re just waiting for the go-signal from 54,100 coffee seedlings the Land Registration Authority.” propagated in the three project sites’ community Fostering Partnerships nurseries were distributed to ninety farmers). One of the significant gains of the project is having facilitated the working relationships between A big help to the the community and LGUs – from the barangay to communities of Man-ibay the municipal and even provincial levels – with other and Mat-i was the government agencies, and even with the business establishment of a business sector and other NGOs. partnership with de Oro Handmade Paper, The barangay councils and the municipal LGU Inc. (CDOHP) based in have recognized the achievement of the target Opol, Misamis Oriental. communities in forest conservation and livelihood Through the partnership, development. They provided these communities the handmade paper with financial as well as policy support to their company provided the different activities. The municipal and provincial communities with an abaca LGUs have also partnered with the three stripping machine in communities in enhancing their abaca-based exchange for abaca fiber and enterprises. cuttings. WITH assistance from LFPI and PTFCF, community members have become engaged in sustainable livelihood activites.

The DENR also enlisted Institutionalizing MAMACILA and LFPI as members of Community Initiatives the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) of the Mt. Balatukan Range Building on the initial gains of the Protected Area. project, 2009 saw the propagation of 62,025 seedlings of 14 indigenous tree species for “Their exposure to different the expansion of the project covering the eco- government agencies, other POs and and buffer zones of Mts. Balatukan and NGOs made the community leaders Kimangkil ranges in the upper portion of confident in negotiating and putting Barangay Mat-i and Man-ibay and the forward their concerns,” observes Rey riparian areas along the Cabulig River in Nambatac, from the Office of the Barangay Lanise. In addition to the 283 ha Cagayan de Oro City Environment and of ANR and forest under strict protection Natural Resources Office (CENRO), established in the project’s first phase, a total designated Municipal Environment and of 149 ha were rehabilitated. Natural Resources Officer of the Municipality of Claveria. He also said No less important among the that the implementation of DENR’s NGP achievements of the expansion project is the in these communities couldn’t have been institutionalization of community easier, thanks to their experience with participation in forest protection and the PTFCF-LFPI community-based management by organizing BK, a 12-member rainforestation project. volunteer forest guard group. Several cases of illegal activities Looking Back related to kaingin and small-scale timber poaching, as well as Through the two phases of the project, a commercial charcoal production, total area of 536.98 ha around Mt. Balatukan and have since been documented and Kimangkil was planted with nineteen native tree reprimanded by BK members in the species. These trees are beneficial to the water three villages, and reported to the quality and quantity in the Cabulig watershed. DENR/CENRO in Region X and Municipal Local Government Unit of “The real contribution of this project is in Claveria. the area of reforestation,” declares Marcelino Patindol, a farmer and chair of the Board of The Sangguniang Bayan of Trustees of LFPI since 2009. “Of course, the Claveria passed a resolution in 2011 livelihood component is important,” he explains, to provide monthly honorarium to “but ultimately, this is a conservation (of native each BK member as part of the trees) and reforestation project, and all parties LGU’s incentive program and involved in carrying it out can be assured that sustaining mechanism for they have achieved this goal.” He also considers environmental conservation-related the organization of the BK as another major efforts. achievement of the project even if it was not initially specified as one of its goals. “We always As an incentive for their active hear about the evils of illegal logging but what involvement in the conservation of often come to mind are big loggers with indigenous tree species and other chainsaws. The reality is that the locals do small- forest conservation initiatives, 16 time timber poaching that may initially pass community members of Barangay unnoticed until the resulting deforestation is Lanise received 16,000 abaca corms, added up. The BK volunteers have certainly which were planted in 19.8 ha of helped mitigate this because they know what will agroforestry-based abaca plantation convince their own people to stop engaging in across their barangay. Additional such self-destructive activities.” livelihood support was also given to BK members as an incentive for their The fatal curse that felled the fabled volunteer effort in safeguarding the aposkahoy so many years ago might have been a forests in their communities. foreshadowing of what may be considered the Training on lakatan (a variety of real curse that felled thousands of trees decades banana) production was provided. later – the self-destructive activities of timber Each BK group was also given 500 poaching and a general lack of care for the banana suckers for propagation. environment foreign to the Higaonon culture.

By going back to their roots, Misamis Oriental’s mountain dwellers have proven that this can be reversed.

Copyright By the Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation, Inc. 2/F Valderrama Bldg., 107 Esteban St., Legaspi Vill. 1223 Makati City, Phils. Telephone Number: (+632) 891 0595 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.ptfcf.org